Shipping container from the U.S. Who? And what to bring?

[blinksnz]

Moving the family home after 12 years in Philadelphia. My wife and daughter (9 months) are both American born and raised - so an especially big move for them.

Any advice on who to ship with from Philadelphia to Auckland?

And also what we should be bringing? Anything we should be buying new in the U.S. to send down in the container?
Any and all tips greatly received.

[dede]

I tried a similar thread a few days ago. Top of the list so far is sunblock and vitamins.

[girlwithanewf]

You can get everything you need here, it is just more expensive I assume than in the USA.
If you have space and you want to save some money I would really just stock up on practical stuff you use - soap, shampoo, toothpaste, basic everyday clothing such as socks etc. Particularly for your daughter - books, crayons etc for her would also be good.

Libraries are great though!

[Hagabel]

Kids clothes, bring car seats (container or plane), a good stock of toiletries for all concerned esp deodrant and mens razor blades, and female sanitary items. If you do not have a good laptop buy one there and it is able to be used here. Next 1-2 yrs supply of clothes for baby esp shoes (for when she is using them). Stock up on mens shirts, esp dress ones, shoes esp sneakers. Diapers, wipes etc. Books or invest in a Kindle.
Any furniture and make sure if you have a US sized bed (esp King) bring spare sheets as different sizing here.

Good luck.

[girlwithanewf]

Yes, would echo bed linen - especially if you value it being made of 100 percent cotton. That was difficult to find here at a reasonable price and with a nice design as it all seemed to be a polycotton mix or ridiculously expensive.

[kiwihusker]

When are you planning your move? If you go to Ikea and buy a bunch of stuff you need to prove you have owned it at least a year especially if you keep it in its box and ship it that way, otherwise you will want to assemble it. Now, this is just what we were told by our friends who moved recently. This could have just been their experience. We don't move till September. Good luck.

[blinksnz]

When are you planning your move? If you go to Ikea and buy a bunch of stuff you need to prove you have owned it at least a year especially if you keep it in its box and ship it that way, otherwise you will want to assemble it. Now, this is just what we were told by our friends who moved recently. This could have just been their experience. We don't move till September. Good luck.

Is this true? Can anyone clarify? We were thinking of doing that! Also, has anyone had any experience with shipping companies on the East Coast?

[JandM]

http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/...s/default.aspx

Duty-free entry for household items

​When entering New Zealand either as a returning citizen or resident, or if settling for the first time, your household or other related effects will be admitted free of Customs duty and goods and services tax (GST) for a reasonable time after you arrive, provided you can meet the following requirements:

•You have arrived in New Zealand and, on the date the effects are imported, hold a document authorising residence in New Zealand.
•For the whole of the period of 21 months preceding your arrival, you have lived outside New Zealand (brief holiday or exploratory visits do not exclude a person from qualifying for this concession).
•You have owned and used the goods before the date of your arrival in New Zealand.
•The goods are for your own personal use and are not intended for any other person or persons, or for gift, sale, or exchange.
Exceptions
The following goods will not qualify for duty-free entry, unless you can establish that they were for your own personal use prior to their arrival in New Zealand:

•Any goods shipped directly after purchase to avoid local taxes in the country of export.
•Replacement electrical equipment operating to New Zealand standards.
•Goods of a commercial nature (such as factory plant and office equipment).
In these cases you may need to pay Customs duty and any other applicable charges.

Rate: N/A

So - you may have to prove 'owned and used'.

[Hagabel]

We bought brand new linen to bring and just washed it and took it out of the packaging. No questions asked.

[Athena]

We moved from Georgia in 2008 with a company called Ranier, they dropped off a container, we packed, they picked it up the next day and 4 months later it was delivered and unpacked for us at our house. At that time there was lots of useful info on this forum about moving companies that helped us make the decision to go with Ranier, of course things can change a lot in 4 yours but we had a great experience with them. Things we're really glad we brought: bikes, outdoor gear, running shoes, jeans, laptop. Good luck.